Ashley Evans is a graduate of the Quinte Ballet School of Canada’s Professional Training Program under the direction of Brian Scott. She also trained at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, The Banff Centre for the Performing Arts, and London Studio Centre in the UK. Ashley has enjoyed a 20+ year professional performing career in classical and contemporary ballet. Upon graduation she toured England and Wales with the ‘Images of Dance’ company before moving to Victoria to dance with both Ballet Victoria and as Principal Dancer with Canadian Pacific Ballet. With Canadian Pacific Ballet Ashley performed title roles in Giselle and Coppelia as well as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Naila in La Source and the role of Fanny in Bournonville’s Konservatoriat. Ms. Evans has also worked as a freelance dancer and performer with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre, Victoria Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Victoria Operatic Society, and Bohemia Ballet.

Ashley is currently Artistic Director, Choreographer and Principal Dancer with Ballet Étoile Canada, which she co-founded in 2013. With Ballet Étoile Ashley has restaged many well-known Classical and Romantic Era ballets such as The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia and La Sylphide. She has also choreographed numerous original ballets for the company including Cleopatra, The Great Gatsby, The Red Shoes and Robin Hood.

Ashley has been teaching ballet in Victoria and Vancouver for over 10 years, to students of all ages. She recently completed a Master’s degree in Dance Education from the Royal Academy of Dance and the University of Bath. As part of her degree she conducted original research focused on bringing student-centered learning concepts and somatic practice to the ballet class. Additionally, she has both her Advanced II and Associate Diploma Teacher credentials with Cecchetti Canada and is a certified teacher of the Progressing Ballet Technique conditioning program. Ashley enjoys sharing her passion for dance with her students. She strives to pass on a strong understanding of the fundamentals of ballet technique while encouraging creativity and artistic growth.